Protecting Race-Explicit Programming Series: Navigating the Current Legal Landscape

Series Description:

Following the Supreme Court’s landmark 2023 decision that effectively bans affirmative action and race-conscious admissions practices in higher education, there has been an onslaught of attacks to DEI programs, including over 100 legal challenges to programs related to internships, grantmaking, scholarships, and other policies. With the new administration in January 2025, we expect more challenges and bolder actions to undermine race-conscious programs and activities that strive to uplift or provide support for communities that have historically been underserved or underrepresented. 

In response to this continued fallout against affirmative action, including the lawsuit against the Fearless Fund, and in preparation for the incoming Trump administration, AAPIP is partnering with Chinese for Affirmative Action to launch a three-part Learning Series: Protecting Race-Explicit Programming. The series is intended to (re)situate Asian Americans within the broader conversations around civil rights, and affirmative action specifically; provide an overview of the current legal landscape with an emphasis on how race conscious programs can still thrive despite the Supreme Court decision; and develop tangible, collective actions to support an infrastructure within philanthropy and beyond for race-explicit grantmaking, programs, and policies. Above all, these advocacy conversations will be a reminder that this is the time to be brave, creative, and resilient.

Session 2 Webinar Description:

Join us for the second session of the learning series where we will have a conversation about the current state of the law and how litigation has been used successfully and unsuccessfully to expand or constrain civil rights. Learn how foundations and organizations can assess their risk, prepare for new attacks against DEI in the coming year, and why philanthropy can and should continue to prioritize race-explicit grantmaking and programming. 

If you missed the first session, you can view the webinar recording here.

Speakers:

• Nikki Endsley, Special Projects Attorney, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area
• Annie Lee, Managing Director of Policy, Chinese for Affirmative Action
• Amanda Mangaser Savage, Sullivan & Cromwell Strategic Litigation Counsel, Public Counsel
• Bianca Sierra Wolff, Executive Director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area

Moderator:

Courtney Chappell, Vice President of Programs, AAPIP